Bomb and setting means therefor



Dec. 24, 1929. A. A. POTTER BOMB AND SETTING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Jan. 30, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet HJ? 7% 'r WE1?,

gw@ a l MH Dec. 24, 1929. A. A. POTTER BOMB AND SETTING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Jan. 30, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 31a/vento@ /Zfz Rowe@ @No1 nu,

Patented Dec. 24, 1929 ALBERT .L POTTER, OF OKMULGEE, OKLAHOMA BOMB AND SETTING MEANS THEREFOR Application led January 30, 1928.

This invention relates to bombs and a lowering means therefor especially .adapted for use in shooting wells.

Briefly stated an important object is to provide a time controlled bomb in which a mul ,tiplicity of circuit makers are employed between the source of current and the usual blasting caps and in which novel means are provided to mechanically close oneof the circuit makers when the bomb has been fully lowered in the well and the other circuit maker allowed to remain open until the time piece controlling the same closes the circuit at the end of a predetermined interval whereby ample time is allowed for the withdrawal of the cable or the like by which the bomb was lowered into the well.

A further and equally important object is to provide a time controlled bomb in which special and novel means are provided to permit of the release of the lowering cable from the bomb when the bomb is fully lowered into the well.

Another aim is to provide a bomb of the character suggested which is safe, reliable and cheap to manufacture as compared with the bombs now in use for shooting wells.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and" in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure l is a side elevation of the improved bomb being lowered into a well,

Figure 2 is a group perspective illustrating the manner in which the bomb is detachably suspended from a set of jars,

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view through the upper portion of the improved bomb and the ars associated therewith,

Figure 4 l is a vertical sectional v1ew through the lower portion of the 1mproved bomb,

Serial No. 250,588.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view illustratlng the manner in which a time piece is connected to a battery. In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention the numeral 5 designates an lnner tubular container, the upper portion of which may be slightly reduced and threaded into what might be said to be a head 6. The container 5 may be of paper or other light matemal and if desired the threaded attach- 111g portion of the same may be encircled by a sheeting of tin or other suitably light metal through the medium of which a firm connection may be established between the container 5 and the head 6.

Figure 4 clearly illustrates that an electric battery 8 o f appropriate strength is snugly recelved in the inner container 5 and has one pole4 thereof connected with a well insulated wire 9. The wire 9 is shown in Figure 4 to have connection with a leaf spring contact 10, the free terminal portion of which is provided with a return bend. The free end portion of the leaf spring contact 10 is in the path of travel of and is adapted to be engaged by a second leaf spring contact 12 so that a good electrical connection may be established between the wire 9 and a wire 14. It is noted that the wire 14 is well insulated and has a good electrical connection with the leaf spring contact 12. The wires 9 and 14 may be partly or fully imbedded in the tubular shell 5 during manufacture. This, however, is optional.

Preparatory to the lowering of the bomb into a well the leaf spring`co`1itacts 10 and 12, of what might be said to be the primary circuit maker, are spaced as illustrated in Figure 4 so that the wire 14 has no connection with either pole of the battery. It will be seen that the head Gand the container 5 are provided at opposite sides of the leaf spring contacts 10 and 12 with openings 16 by which the positions of the contacts may be observed and by which a suitable tool may be employed to properly space the contacts ifv the saine are found to be improperly positioned.

In carrying out the invention the head 6 is provided with a barrel or cylinder 20 slidably receiving an actuator in the nature of a plunger 22, the lower portion of which is reduced 'as shown in Figure 4 and is provided with a fibrous or other non-conducting tip 24 adapted to engage the leaf spring contact 12 and move the same into good electrical contact with the leaf spring contact 10. Figure 4 clearly illustrates that the insulated tip of a watch support 26 backs up the spring contacts 1() and 12 and in this respect cooperates With the plunger 22 in bringing about good electrical engagement between the contacts at the time the. plunger is forced downwardly as will be hereinafter described. It will be seen that the upper portion of the support 26 is bored for the reception of a winding key.

Figure 4 further illustrates that a watch 30 is mounted on the support 26 and is provided with an hour hand 32 having connection with one pole of the battery through the medium of the support 26. A wire 34 has connection With the zero point 36 of the watch by a resilient loop or the like and is extended from the zero point down along one side of the battery for connection with one or more blasting caps 40. The wire 14 of the other pole of the battery is also connected tothe blasting .cap or caps. e

An outer shell 42 receives theinner shell and the parts therein and is sufficiently,

longer than the container 5 to provide for the placing of an explosive therein. More speciiieally, the explosive is located between the lower end of the container 5 and the lower end of the casing 42. A construction plug 44 is shown to be threaded into the lower portion of the casing 42 and is covered with lead to reduce friction to a minimum. It will be seen that the lower portion ofthe casing 5 is provided with a centrallyv ar-l ranged opening 46 receiving the blasting caps Q 40 whereby the blasting caps may be located contiguous to the main explosive charge.

It might be noted that the casing 421is of a frangible metal and is shown to be covered with paper or the like to reduce friction and consequently avoid premature explosion. of the bomb.

Returning now to consideration of the barrel 20 and associated parts it is pointed out that the upper portion of the barrel is internally enlarged to provide a chamber re-- ceiving a quantityl of felt 50 which may be impregnated with oil. The upper portion 'of the barrel is shown to be provided with a cap 52 holding the oil laden felt in place and having a central opening for the passage of the' reduced upper portion 54 of the plunger 22.

It is the function of the cap 52 to press the felt into firm pressure engagement with the plunger so that the plunger may be moved endwise only as a result of the application of a substantial force thereto. The special manner in which the plunger is moved endwise will be explained.

Figure 3 clearly illustrates that the reduced portion 54 of the plunger is extended throug i a longitudinal opening 56 in the attaching portion 58 of one of the sections 60 of a set of jars. The attaching portion 58 is also provided with a transverse opening 62 communicating with the opening 56 and.

trated in Figure 3 and the reduced upper por- A tion 54 of the saine is extended through the opening 56 and is engaged by the previously positioned attaching link f 64. Thus, the bomb is suspended from the jars and may now be lowered into the well by a cable connected to the upper portion of the other section 66 of the jars.

When the bomb reaches the bottom of the well the operator will be apprised of this fact by the feel of the lowering cable. The seating of the bomb on the bottom of the well will permit the operator to bump the closed lower end of the Section 66 against the reduced portion 54 ofthe plunger 22 a suilicient number of times and with sulicient force to force or bring about thedescent'of the plunger to the fullest extent. The descent of the plunger 22 will establish a good electrical connection between the contacts 10 and 12. Attention isdirected to Figure 4 which illustrates that the lower portion of the plunger 22 is reduced in diameter to define a shoulder adapted to engage an internal shoulder in the lower portion of the barrel 20 so that the descent of the plunger is limited. By thus limiting the descent of the plunger the same is prevented from having destructive engagement with the contacts 10 and l2. However, the plunger is allowed to descend a suiiicient distance to establish a rm connection between the contacts 10 and 12 and to maintain this contact.

When the plunger and thereduced portion 54 thereof has thus been forced downwardly the jars are elevated so that the bottom wall of the opening 62 is forcibly engaged. with the link 64 to remove the link lfrom the position illustrated in Figure 3. More specifically, the engagement of the bottom wall of the opening 62 withthe link '64 will entirely remove the link 64 from the opening 62 whereby the jars are entirely freed from the bomb. In carrying out the invention the link 64 may be pivotally connected at the lower end thereof to a connecting link 68, the lower p0rtion of which is pivotally connected to the head 6 as shown in Figure 4.

Figures 1 and 3 illustrate that the lower portion of the jar 66 is provided on opposite sides thereof with pairs of curved wings adapted to embrace the sides of the jar 60 to hold the sections of the jar in line. By this arrangement the engagement of the section 66 with the upper end of the part 54 at the proper time is assured.

The upper terminal of the portion 54 may be capped with lead to avoid excessive friction.

lVhen the bomb has thus been set in the bottom of the well the time piece 30 will continue to operate until the hour hand 32 comes into contact with the zero point 36 whereupon the current from the battery is supplled to the blasting caps 40 to bring about the full explosion of the bomb.

Vith reference to the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings it will be seen that the danger of the premature explosion of the bomb on the surface or while being lowered into the well is reduced to a minimum and that when the bomb is brought to rest at the bottom of the well the primary circuit maker is operated so that at the zero hour .the bomb is set off.

In summarizing it might be said that the explosion of the bomb is brought about by the operation of two separate swltches, one of which is mechanically closed by the forced descent of the plunger 22 while the other Switch is closed by the time piece 30. Incidentally the time piece 30 may be of conventional or other design.

The manner in which the jars may be released from the bomb after operating the` plunger also forms an important part of the invention and contributes largely to the safety with which the bomb may be employed. There is suflicient frictional contact between the plunger and the wall of the opening in the barrel 20 to hold the plunger in elther an advanced or retracted position to avoid the accidental opening or closing of the 'switch defined by the leaf spring contacts 10 and 12. rlhe plunger 22 and other parts of the bomb may be of an easily shattered material.

It is important to observe that should some obstruction in the well interrupt the free descentof the bomb no damage will result and the bomb may be withdrawn to the surface without possibility of explosion at an inopportune time. In explaining this it might be pointed out that the time piece is set to allow ample time for the safe withdrawal of the bomb in case an-obstruction is encountered during the descent of the bomb into the well.

Also it might be noted that the tightly trical conductors connected to 3 packed flt 50 electively prevents the entrance of ater into the bomb by way of the barrel 20.

It is to be understood that the form of invention herewith shown and described is to be taken merely as a preferred example of the same and that such minor changes in arrangement and construction of parts may be made as will remain within the spirit of the invention and the scope of what is claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A bomb for-use in shooting wells comprising a source of current having positive and negative poles, a time 'controlled switch connected to one pole of the battery, an electrical conductor having connection with the other pole of the battery, a circuit maker interposed in said electrical conductor and consisting of a pair of contacts, and a plunger for electrically connecting said contacts.

2. A bomb for use in shooting wells comprising a source of current having positive and negative poles, a time controlled switch connected to one pole of the battery, an electrical conductorhaving connection with the other pole of the battery, a circuit maker interposed in said electrical conductor and consisting of a pair of contacts, a plunger for electrically connecting said contacts, and means to support the plunger and hold the same in a set position.

3. A bomb for use in shoot-ing wells comprising a source of current having positive and negative poles, a time controlled switch connected to one pole of the battery, an electrical conductor having connection with the other pole of the battery, a circuit maker interposed in said electrical conductor and consisting of a pair of contacts, a plunger for electrically connecting said contacts, means to support the plunger and hold the same in a set position, and a lowering mechanism having connection with said plunger and having means to move the same.

4.. A bomb for use in wells comprising a source of current having opposite poles, elecsaid poles, an explosive element having connection with said electrical conductors, a circuit maker lnterposed in one of said electrical conductors and consisting of a pair of normally spaced contacts, a plunger adapted for electrically connecting said contacts, a set of jars having connection with said plunger, and an attaching link for detachably securing said jars to said plunger whereby the bomb may be suspended from the jars.

5. In a structure of the character specified, a bomb having a switch, a combined switch closing device and attaching member associated with the bomb, a lowering mechanism, and means detachably connecting said combined switch operating device and attaching member to. said lowering mechanism.

6. A bomb for use in wells comprisin a source of current having opposite p'oles, e ectrical conductors connected to said oles, an explosive element having connection lwith said electrical conductors, a circuit maker interposed in one of said electrical conductors and consisting of a pair of normally spaced contacts, a plunger adapted for electrically connecting said contacts, a set of jars having connection with said plunger, an attaching link for detachably securing said jars to said plunger whereby the bomb may be suspended from the jars, and a time controlled circuit maker having connection with one of said electrical conductors.

7 A bomb for use in wells comprising a source of current, electrical conductors connected to said source of current, an explosive element having connection with said electrical conductors, a circuit maker interposed in one of said electrical conductors and consisting of a pair of normally spaced contacts, va plunger adapted for electrically connecting said contacts, a set of jars having connection with said plunger, an attaching link for detachably securing said jars to said plunger whereby the bomb may be suspended from the jars, a time controlled circuit maker having connection with one of said electrical conductors, and a casing enclosing said source of current and receiving an explosive.

8. In a structure of the character described, a source of current, a blasting element associated with the source of current, an electrical conductor having connection with said source of current and said blasting element, a circuit maker in said electrical conductor, an actuator associated with said circuit maker. and a set of jars in operative relation to said actuator.

9. In a structure of the character described, a source of current, a blasting element associated with the source of current, an electiical conductor having connection with said source of current and said blasting element, a'circuit maker in said electrical conductor, an actuator associated with said circuit maker, a set of jars having connection with said actuator, and an attaching device for securing the actuator to the jars.

10. In a structure of the character described` a source of current, a circuit maker associated with the source of current, an actuator for operating said circuit maker, a

, set of jars associated with the actuator and having an impact member for engaging said actuator and operating the same, and means releasably connecting the jars to the actuator.

11.V In a structure of the character described, a source of current, a circuit maker associated with the source of current, an actuator for operating said circuit maker, a sety of jars associated with the actuator and having an impact member for engaging said actuator and 'operating the same, means Ie-l leasably connecting the jars to the actuator, a casing receiving said source of current, and a support for said actuator and having connection with said casing.

12. In a structure of the character specified, the combination of a bomb havingan actuating plunger, a set of jars associated 'with said plunger, an attaching link detachably connecting the jars to said plunger, and

impact portion to engage said plunger to operate the same.

14. In a structure of the character specified, the combination of a shell, a source of current within the shell and having. opposite poles, electrical conductors having connection with said poles, a time controlled circuit maker associated with one of said electrical conductors, a second circuit maker associated with the other electrical conductor and consisting of spaced contacts, a barrel having connection with said shell, a plunger within said barrel and adapted to electrically connect said contacts, a blasting element having connection with said electrical conductors, a jar consisting of a pair of slidably connecting sections, one of which is provided with an attaching portion having an opening receiving said plunger, a link connecting said plunger to said attaching portion, a second link connected to said first-named link and to said barrel, said jars being provided With an impact portion to engage said plunger and move the same, and a shell enclosing the first-named casing and adapted for the reception of an explosive.

15. In a structure of the character specified, an explosive unit, a plunger associated with the explosive unit, and a set of jars connected to the plunger and having means to actuate the same, there being means whereby the plunger may be disconnected from the jars.

.16. In a structure of the character specified, the combination of an explosive unit, an actuator for the explosive unit, a lowering mechanism, means detachably connecting the actuator to the lowering mechanism` s aid lowering mechanism being provided with an impact portion to disengage said means from said actuator.

17. In a structure of the character specified, a bomb having a longitudinally movable setting device, a set of jars, one of which is provided with an opening receiving said setting device, a link for securing said setting device in said opening, the other jar being l gy... 

